USA-NPN Lilac

Help understand Nature's cycles across the country, and in your own backyard!

For over 50 years, cooperators across most of the USA have assisted researchers by monitoring the spring development of lilacs. Observing and studying key events (such as appearance of leaves and flowers) during this growth period is part of the branch of science known as phenology. Many of your favorite plants can be observed in addition to lilacs, but one special type of lilac (cloned to produce genetically identical individuals) has been used in connection with these projects to help minimize response variations between locations: the USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) Lilac,Syringa chinensis 'Red Rothomagensis'.

In cooperation with USA-NPN, Jung is pleased to provide this lilac to the public for purchase, to help foster rapid expansion of the number of participating phenological observers across the country. Although lilacs are quite hardy in general, USA-NPN recommends placing at least two lilacs at every observation site, so observations can continue, even if one lilac fails to survive.

USA-NPN lilac is a perennial, deciduous shrub that grows between 12 to 16 feet tall. Its tiny, reddish-purple flowers are grouped into showy, fragrant, terminal, long clusters. One distinction between it and the common lilac is the leaves that are about twice as long as they are wide compared to the much broader leaves of the common lilac. It does not produce seeds and is not invasive. U.S. states where this plant is found are: AR AZ CO CT DC DE IA ID IL IN KS KY MA MD ME MI MN MO MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SD TN UT VA VT WA WI WV WY .

The plants being offered are grown in 1 qt. pots and are 10 to 15 inches tall.